Cabinet construction



Feb. 26, 1952 E, YSMAYDA JR 2,587,396

CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 6, 1949 Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED S TAT E S PATEN T' OF FICE CABINET CoNs'rRUCTIoN EugeneV J. smayda, Jr., University Heights, fohio Application August 6, 1949., serial No. 108,919

(o1. 31e-35o) Claims.

My invention relates to cabinets, compartments and racks for supporting and accommodating a plurality of trays and the like.y

The present invention is relatedin Subj ect matf ter vto -my Patenty No. 2,503,599, -dated -Apri-l- -1-1, 1950.

An object-of my invention vis to provide an improved cabinet for accommodating-aV plurality of trays 'and the like, the cabinet -being economi-V cal to manufacture'and eii'icient in use.-

Anothercbject isto provide a novel structure in a-cabinet for accommodating a plurality of trays and having -a minimum of structural elements 4embodied therein.

Anotherobject is the provision of an improved construction in a, cabinetv ofthe class described and providing rigidity lto the cabinet by an ein-A cientA and economical arrangement.

Another'object -is the provision of an improvedconstruction in a cabinet for the assemblyof the side walls to framing members at-the-open front of the cabinet.-

Another object is -the provision v-of av cabinet having sheet metal sides formed with channels therein and having the side walls-disposed inone plane at the ends of the-channels.

Another object is the provision of a vconstrue# tion fora -cabinet in which the corrugated side Wallsare iiattened` at the forward edgeof'th'e sideA Walls .to .positionthe sidewalls at thefront edge in one .vertical plane.

vAnother vobject isv the -provision:- of acabinet whichisA formed with channelsin the-side Wallsr ment in .theV construction of parts iofthe cabinet.

shown in my said coe-pending application..

Other objects and a fuller understanding of myinvention may be .hadby referring Ato the following'descrption and claims, taken in-conjunction-with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1-is a side --view of a cabinetembodyingmy invention;

Figure 2 :is a cross-sectional view-of my-cabinet looking vin theV direction of the arrows 2-2-ofr 1 tion of my cabinet looking Yin the direction-of the arrowsv 3-3-of AFigure 1;

Figure 4 is anenlarged sectional view-'ofaportion of'my cabinet looking in the direction of -the arrows ie-4 orFigure 1; and- Figure-51s an enlarged Asectional Vviewiof a portion of my cabinetlooking/in-the-direction-of the arrows 5-5 4of Figure A1.

A generaldescription-of the'class of cabinets-in which my invention/resides and ofthe Vuses-of such cabinets is given in my said Patent No. 2,503,599. My cabinet `has lsheet-metal side wall' members denoted generally by the reference characterl II. These side -wall members II are spaced-apart parallel to--eachlotherfto form-.the two side walls of the cabinet. Fitting-Jover 'the top candenclosing the -upper `end of Athe cabinet is -a top wall I2 having peripheral flanges IZ-a.

extending down-and overlapping the upper edges oi fthe-cabinet walls. A `rear wall :I3 isjoined to the rea-r tvertical edges ofthe sidewalls I-I to enclose a Ythird side of the cabinet. Vertical flanges I3-a, which are doubled back and dis,- posedlat fright 'langles :.to. they body of 'the rear wall I3, voverlapand are joined to the side Wall members Il at Vthe rear, verticaledges thereof.

A bottom Wall member I 4 isdisposed horizontallyv at the Abottom end `of .the cabinet and is ,secured theretogto enclose.thebottom'endof the cabinet. The-remaining open lside of the cabinet -is adapted .toibe closed by a door i1 yhingedly carriediby the cabinet andadapted to'be swung open to provideaccess to the interior. The walls II, I2, I3, I4 ,and` the door I'I are preferably all formed of sheet metal and form an enclosure for a plurality of trays, which, mayr contain foo-d or other material vthereon supported in-plaee' by the vside-walls I I. Suitable-jk carisirers-.l I9, carried on swiveled brackets 18,* are "secured to the. bottom of the cabinet to provide 'readygmebilityof the cabinet.

The two` opposite sidejwallsll I vhave-'oppositely facing channels. =l i-wformed therein by pressing, bendingorpther suitable-operation. The channels lI-a-are disposed-toaccommodatethe edges of trays, which may be .slid-into the cabinet .from the front thereof. To for1n-thechannels II-a in the sheet metal Wall members, the wall members are provided with a web portion I I-b forming the inner wall of they respective. channels. This web f-portion lI I-lb-of theseveral channels Yin each wall member is disposed in one vertical plane. Between the several channels in each wall member, there is a connecting portion I I-c which determines the spacing between the channels. These connecting portions II-c between the several channels of a wall member are all disposed in a second vertical plane spaced from, and parallel to, the first vertical plane, as best illustrated in Figure 5. Where the channels are formed, that is, in the main body portion of the wall members, the sheet metal is in a corrugated or recurrently angular form. This provides a reversed channel or outer open space adjacent the connecting portion II-c. If the connecting portions II-c were continued throughout the depth of the cabinet, then these open spaces adjacent the connecting portion II-c would be presented at the front and rear edges of the side walls. However, in the present invention, the connecting portions I I-c at the front and rear edge portions of the wall members are iiattened or drawn in to the same vertical plane in which the web portions II-b are disposed. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the connecting portions II-c are drawn or moved in a gradual slope to where they coincide with the same vertical plane as the web portions II-b. Thus, at the front and rear vertical edge portions of the wall members, all of the material of the wail members is in one vertical plane. Likewise, the outer open spaces adjacent the connecting portions II-c at the front and rear edges are eliminated. This helps prevent the lodgment of food particles or foreign matter in these open spaces and a neat and smooth surface is presented at the interior of the cabinet. The edges of the Wall members look neater and there are no sharp wavy edges that may be encountered when the door II is opened. The correct location of the channels II-a is more apparent so that the insertion of trays in their proper place is facilitated.

At the front vertical edge of the respective side wall members a framing is provided by the framing members I5. Each framing member I5 has a grooved or recessed portion I5a disposed longitudinally of the framing member. This grooved portion Iii-a. is dimensioned to accommodate and embrace or bind the front edge portion of the side wall member, which front edge portion is denoted by the rererence character I6. As best illustrated in Figure 4, the grooved portion |5-a extends around on both sides of the front edge portion I6 and covers the extreme front edge of the portion I6. The frame member I5 has a body portion IS-b which is displaced away from the cabinet and from the rst vertical plane in which the portion I6 is located. The body portion I5-b in the assembly shown is disposed to extend out at an angle from the side wall member and thence extends back toward the side wall member where it terminates. The iat portion I5-c is disposed to be adjacent to the web portion I I-b disposed in the said first vertical plane and the iiat portion I5-c extends longitudinally of the framing member and vertically of the cabinet. Suitable welds 23 disposed at intervals along the length of the framing member I5, weld the flat portion I5-c to the side wall member at various locations from top to bottom of the cabinet. By the binding of the front edge portion I6, by the grooved portion I5-a, and by the welding of the fiat portion I5c to the wall member at various locations, each framing member I5 is rmly secured to a respective wall member. The disposition of the body portion I5-b is such as to provide rigidity to the framing member and to the wall member to which it is secured. The framing members provide a frame upon which the door I'I may be attached. Suitable hinges on one framing member support the door I'I and a suitable latch, such as latch 21, secures the door I1 to the other framing member. The door I'I has its vertical edges closely abutting against the framing members when the door is closed.

A threaded bolt or stud 20 is positioned in the space between the Wall member and the body portion I5-b, near the lower end of each framing member I5. The threaded bolt or stud 20 is secured to the framing member by a weld 2 I. The threaded end of the stud 2i] extends downwardly and is threadably engaged by a nut 24. The nut 24 threaded on the bolt 20 rmly secures the framing member I5 on each side of the cabinet to the bottom wall I4. There is a threaded bolt at the lower end of each of the framing members and the bottom Wall I4 is similarly secured to the framing members on the opposite sides of the cabinet.

At the rear vertical corners of the cabinet, the wall member is similarly disposed in the first vertical plane so that the channels extend between the iront and rear vertical -edge portions. The rear vertical edge portions of the wall members, respectively, are secured to the flanged portions IS-a of the rear wall I3 by suitable welds 22, as indicated in Figure -3. The welded connections 22 between the side wall members and the flanged portions I3-a are positioned at suitable intervals along the vertical extent of the wall members at the rear corners of the cabinet. By this construction, a strong and rigid corner is provided to the cabinet and without the use of additional framing or external support. The flanged portions I3-a of the rear wall member form a strong framing element in themselves. Likewise, by the arrangement and the use of the channeled ooniiguration of the side wall members, lateral or vertical bracing members are obviated. A lightweight and yet strong and rigid construction is thus provided.

At each of the rear corners of the cabinet and adjacent the bottom wall I4, a triangular piece of metal 25 is welded or otherwise secured to the rear wall I3 and the side wall II, in the position shown in Figure 3. A triangular piece 25 is positioned and secured in each of the rear corners of the cabinet. These triangular pieces are thus carried between the rear and side walls of the cabinet. A nut and bolt assembly 25 engaged in a suitable hole in the triangular piece 2 5 secures the triangular piece 25 to the bottom wall I4 of the' cabinet. A nut and bolt assembly 26 is in each rear corner of the cabinet to secure, through the triangular pieces, the rear wall and side walls to the bottom wall. Thus, by the nut and bolt assemblies 26 and the threaded bolts 2D, with their respective nuts 24, the four corners of the cabinet are secured to the bottom wall.

The above described and shown construction provides for the ready assembly and joinder of the parts of the cabinet also provides for a lightweight and simple connection. The form of the parts and particularly of the front edge portions, bound or embraced by the framing members, provides an improvement in the strength, use and appearance of the cabinet. Other advantages and benefits are obvious from the inspection and consideration of the construction shown.

The present disclosure includes by reference herein the description contained in the appended claims.

Although -my invention hasbeen described in itspreferredform with a certain,degreeofpare.

and. arrangement of partsv may vbe resorted to without departing from the .spiritand .the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What. is claimed is:

l. In a cabinet, the construction comprisinga pair of sheet metal side wall membersdisposed,

parallel to each other and spaced from each other to provide the side walls of the cabinet, each side wall member being recurrently bent at Aintervals to Aform a pluralityrof horizontally disposed and parallel channel portions andra plurality of connecting portions alternating4 with and joining the channel portions, said channel portions of each sidewall member having web portions disposed in a first vertical plaine` and 1 said connecting portions vof each said side wall member being disposed in a second Vertical plane spaced'from said first vertical plane inwardly of said cabinet, each side wall member adjacent the forward'edge thereof having said connecting portion displaced from said second vertical plane to a plane substantially coinciding with said first vertical piane, anda metallic framing member disposed vertically andadjacent each said side wall member at said forward edge, said framing member having a longitudinal grooved portion embracing the forward edge portion of the respective side Wall member disposed in said first vertical plane, said framing member= having a body portion joined to said` grooved portion and extending outwardly of the cabinet away from, and thence toward, said first vertical plane to provide rigidity to said framing memberA and having a flat portion joined to said body portion and disposed adjacent the said web portieriA of the sidewall member in said rst vertical plane, said framingv members enclosing the forwardedges of the respective side wall members and imparting rigidity and strength to theside Wall members at said forward edges.

2. In a cabinet, the construction comprising sheet metal side members disposed in parallel and spaced relationship to each other to provide the side walls of the cabinet, said side Wall members being corrugated to provide horizontally .dis-` front edge portion thereof being flattened to coincide with one vertical plane and being disposed in, and embraced by, a said grooved portion, each said framing member having a flat portion spaced rearwardly from said grooved portion and joined to said side wall member at said vertical plane, each said framing member also having a body portion joining said grooved portion and flat portion, said body portion being displaced outwardly of the cabinet from said vertical plane to provide rigidity in a second dimension of the cabinet to the framing member and to the side wall member at said forward edge portion.

3. In a. cabinet, the construction comprising -;planes and said channels extending horizontally rst vertical planeand a second vertical; plane parallel tothe rst vertical plane, saidside wall members at the front and rear edge portions thereof being disposed ina first of said vertical.

planes and said channels extending horizontally intermediateof saidtfront and rearedge por,-

tions, andy metallic framing members for the respective Afront edge. portions of said side wall.,

members,` each` saidframing member having a first edge portion formedin U-shaper to receive in the throat thereofsaid front edge portion of a'respective Walli member and to embrace, the

same, each said framing member having a second edgel portion spaced a't-a distance from said rstnedge portion and disposed adjacent said respective wall member at said first vertical plane..

4.-In a cabinet, the construction comprising opposite and spaced sheet metal side wall members, each said sidewall member being recurrentlylbent back upon itself to provide horizontal channels inwardly of the cabinet bounded by a first vertical plane and a second vertical plane parallel to the rst vertical plane, said side wall members at the front and rear edge-portions thereof being disposed inea first of said vertical .edge portion vformed in U-shape to receive in the throat thereof said front edge portion of a respective wall member and toembr'ace the same, each Vvsaid framing member having a second edge portion spaced at a distance from said rst edge portion and disposed adjacent said respective wall member at first vertical plane, and vertically disposed right-angle metallic elements joined to the rear edge portions of said side wall members at said first verticalplane.

5. A sheet `metal cabinet comprising side wall members each having channels formed therein by recurrent bends therein between spaced vertical planes, each of said side wall members having a frontredge portion and rear edge portion along the verticali edges thereof and disposed entirely in one of saidvertioal planes, a pair of metallic Y framing ,members disposed yat said front edge portions of the respective side wall members, each said framing memberl being formed to receive and engage opposite sides of the front edge portion of a respective side wall member disposedl in said one vertical planeand being formed to extend outwardly, of the cabinet away Yfrom said first vertical plane and toextend toward said cabinet to join Vsaid wall member at said first vertical plane, and a rear wall member having vertical joining portions bent over at the vertical edges thereof to engage the rear edge portion of said side wall member at said first vertical plane.

6. A sheet metal cabinet comprising side wall members each havingchannels formed therein by recurrent bends therein between spaced vertical planes, each of said side wall members having a front edge portion and rear edge portion along the vertical edges thereof and disposed entirely in one of said vertical planes, a pair of metallic framing members disposed at said front edge portions of the respective side wall members, each said framing member being formed to receive and eng/age the front edge portion of a respective side wall member disposed in said one vertical plane and being formed to extend outwardly of the cabinet away from said iirst vertical plane and to extend toward said cabinet to join said wall member at said rst vertical plane, a rear wall member having vertical joining portions bent over at the vertical edges thereof to engage the rear edge portion of said side wall member at said first vertical plane, and a threaded fastening element disposed between each said framing member and respective wall member and joined to said framing member, said threaded fastening element being adapted to secure a bottom wall member to said cabinet.

7. A sheet metal cabinet comprising side wall members each having channels formed therein by recurrent bends therein between spaced vertical planes, each of said side wall members having a front edge portion and rear edge portion along the vertical edges thereof and disposed entirely in one of said Vertical planes, a pair of metallic framing members disposed at said front edge portions of the respective side wall members,

each said framing member being formed to re-V ceive and engage opposite sides of the iront edge portion of a respective side wall member disposed in said one vertical plane and being formed to extend outwardly of the cabinet away from said rst Vertical plane and to extend toward said cabinet to join said Wall member at said rst vertical plane, a rear wall member having vertical joining portions bent over at the vertical edges thereof to engage the rear edge portion of said side wall member at said rst vertical plane, a bottom wall member for said cabinet, and nut and bolt means for securing said bottom wall member to the cabinet, one of said means being carried by Veach said framing member and disposed intermediate the said each framing member and the respective side wall member.

8. In a cabinet, the construction comprising a sheet metal side wall member, said side wall member having its vertical front edge portion disposed in a first vertical plane and having a body portion alternately disposed in said first vertical plane and in a second and parallel vertical plane to form horizontal channels therein, and a metallic framing member disposed vertically and along said front edge portion, said framing member having a longitudinal groove opening toward said side wall member and disposed in said first vertical plane for accommodating therein, and embracing, said front edge portion and having a body portion extending, at an acute angle to said first vertical plane, outwardly from and hence inwardly toward said first vertical plane to define a longitudinal open space between said side wall member and said framing member, said framing member providing a rigid frame to said side wall member at said front edge portion.

9. In a cabinet, the construction comprising sheet metal side wall member, said side wall member having its vertical front edge portion disposed in a first vertical plane and having a body portion alternately disposed in said first vertical plane and in a second and parallel vertical plane to form horizontal channels therein, a metallic framing member disposed vertically and along said front edge portion, said framing member having a longitudinal groove openingtoward said side wall member and disposed in said first vertical plane for accommodating therein, and engaging opposite sides of, said front edge portion and having a body portion extending outwardly from and hence inwardly toward said first vertical plane to engage with said side wall member to define a longitudinal open space between said side wall member and said framing member, said framing member providing a rigid frame to said side wall member at said front edge portion, and a threaded stud positioned in said open space and joined to said framing member for securing another wall to said cabinet.

10. In a cabinet, the construction comprising a Asheet metal side wall member, said side wall member having its front and rear edge portions disposed in a rst vertical plane and having a body portion alternately disposed in said rst vertical plane and in a second and parallel vertical plane lto form horizontal channels therein, a metallic framing member disposed vertically and along said front edge portion, said framing member having a longitudinal groove in said first vertical plane opening toward said side wall member for accommodating therein and embracing said front edge portion and having a body portion extending outwardly from and hence inwardly toward said first vertical plane to said side wall member to dene an open space between said side wall member and said framing member, said framing member providing a rigid frame to said side Wall member at said front edge portion, and a rear wall member having a body portion and an edge portion bent over at right angles to the body portion and disposed in said rst vertical plane, and

"joined to, the rear edge portion of said side wall member.

EUGENE J. SMAYDA, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following ,references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,197,618 Forbes Sept. 12, 1916 1,508,259 Stafford Sept. 9, 1924 1,718,943 Card July 2, 1929 1,735,375 Card et al. Nov. 12, 1929 1,807,470 Brumbaugh May 26, 1931 2,423,863 Wales July 15, 1947 

